Machine for filing cartons

ABSTRACT

A machine for bowing out a side panel of a flexible carton formed with two end panels and two side panels so that the carton can be easily filled with a measured amount of product at a filling station. Each carton is moved at high speed with one end panel leading by a carton carrier along a first straight path, then along a curved path through a filling station, and then along a second straight path. The carrier is attached to a drive chain, an the chain is trained around a sprocket to establish the curved path through the filling station. Attached to the sprocket and extending radially outward therefrom are a number of pairs of pivoted fingers which travel in a path that is coextensive with the curved path of the cartons. As the cartons move along their path from the first straight portion to the curved portion, successive pairs of fingers move into registry with successive cartons. When in registry, the fingers of each pair are spaced on opposite sides of the end panels of the respective carton. Prior to filling of the cartons, the fingers of each pair are pivoted toward one another and into engagement with the end panels of the respective carton forcing the end panels toward one another and bowing out at least one of the side panels of the carton to open the latter widely for filling. After each carton passes through the filling station, the fingers are pivoted to spread positions and then moved out of registry with the carton.

United States Patent (72] Inventor Donald T. Peterson PrimaryExaminer-Laverne D. Geiger Rockford, lll. Assistant Examiner-Edward J.Earls |2| l Appl. No. 834,944 Aitorney-Wolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit andOsann |22] Filed June 20, |969 |45] Patented .lune 8,1971 |73] Assigneemeg pap" Corporation ABSTRACT: A machine for bowing out a side panel ofa flexi- New York, N Y. ble carton formed with two end panels and twoside panels so that the carton can be easily filled with a measuredamount of product at a tilling station. Each carton is moved at highspeed with one end panel leading by a carton carrier along a firststraight path, then along a curved path through a filling station, andthen along a second straight path. The carrier is attached to a drivechain, an the chain is trained around a sprocket to establish the curvedpath through the filling sta- {541 MACHINE FOR FILLING CARTONS tion.Attached to the sprocket and extending radially outward 7 Claims, 5Drawing Figs.

therefrom are a number of pairs of pivoted fingers which U-S. travel ina Path that is coextensiye the curved path of the 53/136l 53/381,141/165, 141/168 cartons. As the cartons move along their path from thefirst [5 Int. Straight portion to the Curved portion, successive pairsof fln- [50] Field of Search v 53/186, gers move into registry withsuccessive cartons. When in regis. 381, 382; 141/114, 129, 154, 165,166, l68, 314, try, the fingers ofeach pair are spaced on opposite sidesofthe 316 end pariels of the respective carton. Prior to tilling of thecartons, the tingers of each pair are pivoted toward one another [56]References Cmd and into engagement with the end panels of the respectivecar- UNITED STATES PATENTS ton forcing the end panels toward one anotherand bowing out 2,081,986 6/ 1937 Davis 141/3 16X at least one of theside panels of the carton to open the latter 2,899,786 8/1959 Harkerl4l/3l6X widely for filling. After each carton passes through thefilling 2,999,344 9/1961 Clanin et al.. 53/374X station, the fingers arepivoted to spread positions and then 3,431,703 3/ 1969 Miller l4 l/l 14Xmoved out of registry with the carton.

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5)/ +7'- gJ www www MAciiiigigyQitA FiLLiNG cARToNs BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a machine for filling flexiblewalled canons and more particularly, to a machine in which the cartonsto be filled have opposed end panels and opposed side panels and inwhich the cartons are advanced one at a time by a cari'ier through afilling station to receive a measured amount of product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary aim of the present invention is tofacilitate filling of the cartons by positively bowing the cartons towidely open positions during their advance toward the filling stationand in a manner which enables advance of the cartons at faster speedsthan has been possible heretofore and which, at the same time, avoidsthe danger of contaminating the insides of the carton during the bowingoperation.

Itis a related object to bow open the cartons by forcing the end panelstoward one another thus bowing at least one of the side panelsoutwardly.

It is a further object to accomplish the above through the provision ofnovel pairs of pivoted fingers with the fingers of each pair beingpositionable on opposite ends of a carton and movable toward one anotherto engage the end panels of the carton to force the end panels towardone another and thus bow out at least one of the side panels.

Another object is to position the fingers alongside opposite end panelsof the cartons in a novel manner as the cartons are moved toward thefilling station.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a fragmentary plan view of acarton filling machine embodying the novel features of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken substantiallyalong the line 2-2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bowed carton.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross section on a reduced scale takensubstantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation taken substantially alongthe line 5-5 of FIG. 4, the carton being shown in phantom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in thedrawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in acarton filling machine l0 (FIG. l) operable to dispense measured amountsof material such as ,strawberries and their juice into upright cartonsll (FIGS. l

and 3) which are advanced continuously at a high rate of speed through afilling station l2 (FIG. 2) with their open ends passing beneath adischarge nozzle 13 to receive the material delivered to the nozzle froma suitable hopper or tank (not shown). After the cartons have beenfilled, their open ends are sealed closed, and the product is frozenwithin the cartons prior to shipment.

Each of the cartons ll herein comprises a closed bottom and two opposed,resiliently flexible side panels 14 and l5 (FIG. 3) connected alongopposite side margins to two narrow rectangular end panels I6 and 16a.To close the upper ends of the cartons, side flaps I7 and 18 and endflaps 19 and 20 projecting upwardly from the panels are folded acrossthe upper ends. The closure flaps are resiliently hinged at 2l to thepanels and normally assume upright positions until folded over andsealed closed.

In this instance, the cartons ll are supported and advanced along afirst straight path 22 (FIG. l), then along a semicircular path 23through the filling station l2 and beneath the discharge nozzle 13 andfinally along a second straight path 24. The cartons are supported andadvanced on an endless carrier comprising a pair of parallel horizontalchains 25 and 26 (FIG. 2) trained around vertically spaced lower andupper sprocket wheels 27 and 28 journaled on a frame 29 and suitablydriven at a high rate of speed. The bottoms ofthe cartons slide on astationary track 30 (FIG. 2) extending around the outside of` andbeneath the chains while the inner side panel l5 and the end panels 16and 16a of each carton fit into and are carried by two vertically spacedholders 3l (FIGS. l, 2 and 4)-s`paced equally along and connected to theouter sides of the chains. Each holder is formed with outwardlyprojecting legs 32 (FIG. l) engaging the end panels and with a web 33spanning the legs and supporting the inner side panel l5. To prevent thecartons from tipping outwardly, a curved horizontal rail 34 (FIG. 2)upstands from and is connected to the track and positioned alongside thesemicircular portion 23 of the carton path to guide the side panels I4as the cartons are advanced.

In accordance with the present invention, the end panels 16 and 16a ofeach carton 1l are forced toward one another just prior to the fillingof the carton thus bowing out the side panel I4 to open the cartonwidely to receive a large amount of product in a short time interval andto receive product chunks larger than the unbowed thickness of thecarton. For these purposes, pairs of fingers 36 (FIG. 4) are suspendedbeneath and pivotally supported by the upper sprocket wheel 28 with thefingers of each pair spaced apart and positionable on opposite sides ofthe end panels of a carton. The fingers of each pair may be pivotedtoward one another to engage the end panels of the carton thus forcingthe end panels toward one another and bowing out the side panel 14. Withthis arrangement, every carton, even though being advanced at a highrate of speed, will be bowed open prior to filling to facilitate thefilling and this is accomplished with greatly reduced chances ofinterferring with the advance of' the cartons. Further, such bowing isaccomplished without the necessity of inserting any object into thecartons thus helping to maintain the insides of the cartons in anuncontaminated condition.

ln this instance, each finger 36 is one portion of an L-shaped squeezer37 (FIG. 4) which preferably is pivotally mounted to turn about avertical axis by a pin 33 at the corner of the L on the horizontal leg39 of an L-shaped support 40 (FIG. 2) whose other leg is verticallyextending and connected by a pair of bolts 4l to the underside of theupper sprocket wheel 28. The other portion of each squeezer is formed asa pivot arm 42, (FIG. 4) which extends at a right angle from the finger.When parallel, the fingers of each pair of squeezers are spaced apart agreater distance than the distance between the end panels 16 and 16a ofthe cartons ll. From FIG. 4, it will be observed that the fingers extendradially outwardly from the pivot pins 38 a distance great enough thatthe free ends of the fingers can project beyond the outer margins of thecartons.

The squeezers 37 are paired with the pivot arm 42 of each pair extendingtoward one another and with the fingers 36 extending generally parallelto one another in their normal positions as exemplified by the fingersin FIG. l which are not between the cartons. Because the upper sprocketwheel 28 is driven by the chain 26, the pairs of the squeezers are movedalong a circular path, half of which is coextensive with thesemicircular path 23 of the cartons ll, and the squeezers are movedalong the path in timed relation with the advance of the cartons. At thepoint at which the first straight path 22 becomes generally tangent tothe circular path of the squeezers, the fingers 36 of each pair ofsqueezers move into registry with an advancing carton. From FIG.1, itcan be seen that one finger of each pair moves in front of the leadingend panel 16 and the other finger moves, behind the trailing end panel16a. In the reverse manner, the fingers of each pair move out ofregistry with the 'respective carton when the semicircular carton pathchanges to the second straight path 24 and recedes along a tangent tothe sprocket wheel. Thus, the fingers of each pair of squeezersencompass a carton as that carton moves along the semicircular path andthrough the filling station 12.

To effect the bowing of the cartons 1l, the pivot arms dit of each pairof squeezers 37 can be swung in unison to swing the free ends of thefingers 36 toward one another and into gagement with the end panels i6and 16a of the carton disposed between the fingers. The outer endportion of a link M (FIG. 4) is pivotally connected to each pivot arm.The inner end portions of the pivot rods for each pair of squeezers arepivotally joined to one another and to the outer end portion of a camrod 45 by a pin 45a, and the cam rod extends radially inwardly towardthe axis of rotation of the upper sprocket wheel 28. A roller 46 (FIG.4), rotatably mounted on the inner end portion of each cam rod extendsupwardly therefrom and is seated in a cam track 47 (FIGS. ll, 2 and d).The cam track is formed as a recess in a solid member 4d (FIG. 2)rigidly connected to the frame 29. The cam track is, as seen in FIG. ll,generally eccentric and is nearer the axis of rotation of the uppersprocket wheel 28 in the area of the filling station i2. With thisarrangement, as each carton approaches the filling station, theassociated cam rod is gradually pulled inwardly toward the axis ofrotation by the cam track thereby pulling the pivot rods 44 inwardly topivot the associated pair of squeezers 37 and swing the free ends of thefingers 36 toward one another just prior to the filling of the cartonl1.

The swinging of the free ends of the fingers 36 toward one anotherbrings them into contact with the leading end panel ll6 and trailing endpanel iba of the carton il forcing these panels toward one another andbowing out the side panel 14 to open the carton widely for filling. FromFIG. tt, it will be seen that the free ends of the fingers extend beyondthe outermost side panels M of the canons. As the fingers of each pairswing toward one another, the fingers initially contact the carton atthe vertical junctions i) (FIG. 4;) joining the end panels to theoutermost side panel M thereby causing the end panels to be forcedtoward one another along inwardly extending lines so as to help insurethat the side panel will bow outwardly. To further insure that the sidepanel 14 will bow outwardly rather than inwardly, the side panels of thecartons are formed with a slight outward bow when made, and the memoryof the material forming the cartons retains this slight bow.

Referring to FIG. 4, it will be observed that each cam rod 45 isslidably mounted through and suspended from the upper sprocket wheel 28by a guide 5B. The guide is formed in this instance by a rectangularblock 52 (FIG. 5) connected at its upper surface to the underside of theupper sprocket wheel 28 by four bolts 54 (FIGS. l and 5), and a recess55 (FIG. 5) just slightly larger than the cam rod is formed in thebottom of the rectangular block. To hold the cam rod within the recess,a cover plate 56 is connected by bolts 57 to the underside of therectangular block. For access purposes, openings 57a (FIGS. l and 2) areformed in the upper sprocket wheel above each cam rod. Lubricant can beejected into the recess 55 through a lubrication port 58 (FIG. 2) formedin the block 52.

The squeezers 37 are advantageously mounted on the I.'y shaped supports40 so that one pivot pin 38 can be used to mount two squeezers. Onesqueezer of one pair is mounted either under or over the adjacentsqueezer of the adjacent pair of squeezers, and the pivot pin extendsthrough both squeezers to pivotally connect them to the support. In thepresent instance, the squeezers of the same pair are mounted ondifferent levels. That is, one squeezer is the upper of two on one pivotpin and the other squeezer is the lower of two on the adjacent pivotpin.

It will be observed from the above that the utilization of pairs ofsqueezers 37 registering automatically with and encompassing theadvancing cartons ll is va particularly advantageous arrangement sincethe canons may be advanced, bowed, and filled at extremely high speeds.By bowing out the side panel of each carton externally with thesqueezers, each and every carton is positively bowed open withoutmissing any cartons and without interrupting operation of the machine asa result of malfunctions or jamming. Since the bowing is achievedexternally and without need of inserting any members into the carton,the danger of contaminating the inside of the carton is reduced.Additionally, the mounting of adjacent squeezers of adjacent pairs ofsqueezers on the same pivot pin 3d helps reduce the overall cost ofthemachine.

Iclaim:

i. In a machine for filling cartons having opposed side panels, opposedend panels and open upper ends, the combination of, a frame, a carrieron said frame operable to support a succession of spaced cartons andadvance the same open end up along a predetermined path through afilling sta tion with one of the end panels of each carton forming theleading end of the carton, and means in a filling station for engagingthe end panels and pressing one toward the other to bow at least one ofsaid side panels of each carton away from the other side panel to spreadthe carton for receiving a charge of product at the filling station.

2. The machine of claim l in which said means comprise a pair of pivotedfingers, said fingers being movable in unison from positions out ofengagement with the end panels to positions in engagement with the endpanels.

3i. In a machine for filling cartons having opposed end panels, opposedside panels and open upper ends, the combination of, a frame, a firstcarrier on said frame operable to support a succession of spaced cartonsand advance the same open end up along a first predetermined paththrough a filling station with one of the end panels of each cartonforming the leading end of the carton, a second carrier on said frame,at least one pair of opposed fingers each mounted on said second carrierto pivot about a vertical axis, said second carrier being operable tomove said fingers along a second path coextensive with said first pathfrom a point ahead of the filling station to a point beyond the fillingstation in timed relation with the advance of the cartons, and meansoperable when said paths are coextensive to pivot the fingers toward oneanother and into engagement with the end panels of one of the cartons topress the end panels toward one another and thereby bow at least one ofsaid side panels away from the other side panel to spread the carton forreceiving a charge of product at the filling station.

4. In a machine for filling cartons having opposed end panels, opposedside panels and open upper ends, the combination of, a frame, a firstcarrier on said frame operable to support a succession of spaced canonsand advance the same open end up along a first predetermined paththrough a filling station with one of the end panels of each cartonforming the leading end of the carton, a second carrier on said frame, anumber of pairs of opposed fingers supported on said second carrier witheach finger being mounted to pivot about a vertical axis, the fingers ofeach pair normally being spaced apart a distance greater than thespacing between the end panels of each carton, said second carrier beingoperable to move said pairs of fingers in timed relation with theadvance of the cartons along a second path which becomes coextensivewith said first path from a point ahead of the filling station and whichremains coextensive with said first path to a point beyond the fillingstation and being operable to move successive pairs of tingers intoregistry with successive cartons as said pairs of fingers and saidcartons pass said point at which said paths become coextensive so thatone finger of each pair is positioned ahead of the leading end panel andthe other finger is positioned behind the trailing end panel of therespective carton as the latter approaches said filling station, andmeans therefore pivoting the fingers of each pair toward one another andinto engagement with the end panels of the respective carton to pressthe end panels toward one another and thereby' bow at least one of saidside panels away from the other side panel to spread the carton forreceiving a charge of product at the filling station.

5. In a machine for filling cartons having 'opposed end panels, opposedside panels and open upper ends, the combination of, a frame, a firstcarrier on said frame operable to support a succession of spaced cartonsand advance the same open end up along a first predetermined paththrough a filling station with one of the end panels of each cartonforming the leading end of the carton, said first path beingsubstantially straight to a first point ahead of the filling station,arcuate to a second point beyond the filling station and thereafterstraight, a second carrier on said frame, a number of pairs of opposedfingers supported on and spaced along said second carrier with eachfinger being mounted to pivot about a vertical axis, said fingers ofeach pair normally being spaced apart a distance greater than thespacing between the end panels of each carton, said second carrier beingoperable to move said fingers in timed relation with the advance of thecartons along a circular path having a portion coextensive with saidarcuate portion of said first path and being operable to move successivepairs of fingers into registry with successive cartons as said pairs offingers and said cartons pass said point at which said paths becomecoextensive so that one finger of each pair is positioned ahead of theleading end panel and the other finger is positioned behind the trailingend panel of the respective carton, means operable thereafter to pivotthe fingers of each pair toward one another and into engagement with theend panels of the respective carton to press the end panels toward oneanother and thereby bow at least one of said side panels away from theother side panel to spread the carton for receiving a charge of productat the filling station, means operable after the carton has beenadvanced beyond the filling station for pivoting said fingers away fromone another to release the filled carton, and said second carrierthereafter being operable to move said pairs of fingers out of registrywith the filled cartons as the cartons move past said second pointthereby to free the filled carton.

6. The machine of claim 5 in which said second carrier is a circularmember mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, said pairs of fingersbeing angularly spaced about the periphery of said member, and furtherincluding a pivot member mounting one finger of each pair and theadjacent finger of the adjacent pair to pivot about a common verticalaxis.

7. The machine of claim 5 in which said means to pivot the fingers ofeach pair includes an actuator common to each pair and pivotallyconnected to each of said fingers.

1. In a machine for filling cartons having opposed side panels, opposedend panels and open upper ends, the combination of, a frame, a carrieron said frame operable to support a succession of spaced cartons andadvance the same open end up along a predetermined path through afilling station with one of the end panels of each carton forming theleading end of the carton, and means in a filling station for engagingthe end panels and pressing one toward the other to bow at least one ofsaid side panels of each carton away from the other side panel to spreadthe carton for receiving a charge of product at the filling station. 2.The machine of claim 1 in which said means comprise a pair of pivotedfingers, said fingers being movable in unison from positions out ofengagement with the end panels to positions in engagement with the endpanels.
 3. In a machine for filling cartons having opposed end panels,opposed side panels and open upper ends, the combination of, a frame, afirst carrier on said frame operable to support a succession of spacedcartons and advance the same open end up along a first predeterminedpath through a filling station with one of the end panels of each cartonforming the leading end of the carton, a second cArrier on said frame,at least one pair of opposed fingers each mounted on said second carrierto pivot about a vertical axis, said second carrier being operable tomove said fingers along a second path coextensive with said first pathfrom a point ahead of the filling station to a point beyond the fillingstation in timed relation with the advance of the cartons, and meansoperable when said paths are coextensive to pivot the fingers toward oneanother and into engagement with the end panels of one of the cartons topress the end panels toward one another and thereby bow at least one ofsaid side panels away from the other side panel to spread the carton forreceiving a charge of product at the filling station.
 4. In a machinefor filling cartons having opposed end panels, opposed side panels andopen upper ends, the combination of, a frame, a first carrier on saidframe operable to support a succession of spaced cartons and advance thesame open end up along a first predetermined path through a fillingstation with one of the end panels of each carton forming the leadingend of the carton, a second carrier on said frame, a number of pairs ofopposed fingers supported on said second carrier with each finger beingmounted to pivot about a vertical axis, the fingers of each pairnormally being spaced apart a distance greater than the spacing betweenthe end panels of each carton, said second carrier being operable tomove said pairs of fingers in timed relation with the advance of thecartons along a second path which becomes coextensive with said firstpath from a point ahead of the filling station and which remainscoextensive with said first path to a point beyond the filling stationand being operable to move successive pairs of fingers into registrywith successive cartons as said pairs of fingers and said cartons passsaid point at which said paths become coextensive so that one finger ofeach pair is positioned ahead of the leading end panel and the otherfinger is positioned behind the trailing end panel of the respectivecarton as the latter approaches said filling station, and meanstherefore pivoting the fingers of each pair toward one another and intoengagement with the end panels of the respective carton to press the endpanels toward one another and thereby bow at least one of said sidepanels away from the other side panel to spread the carton for receivinga charge of product at the filling station.
 5. In a machine for fillingcartons having opposed end panels, opposed side panels and open upperends, the combination of, a frame, a first carrier on said frameoperable to support a succession of spaced cartons and advance the sameopen end up along a first predetermined path through a filling stationwith one of the end panels of each carton forming the leading end of thecarton, said first path being substantially straight to a first pointahead of the filling station, arcuate to a second point beyond thefilling station and thereafter straight, a second carrier on said frame,a number of pairs of opposed fingers supported on and spaced along saidsecond carrier with each finger being mounted to pivot about a verticalaxis, said fingers of each pair normally being spaced apart a distancegreater than the spacing between the end panels of each carton, saidsecond carrier being operable to move said fingers in timed relationwith the advance of the cartons along a circular path having a portioncoextensive with said arcuate portion of said first path and beingoperable to move successive pairs of fingers into registry withsuccessive cartons as said pairs of fingers and said cartons pass saidpoint at which said paths become coextensive so that one finger of eachpair is positioned ahead of the leading end panel and the other fingeris positioned behind the trailing end panel of the respective carton,means operable thereafter to pivot the fingers of each pair toward oneanother and into engagement with the end panels of the respective cartonto press the end paNels toward one another and thereby bow at least oneof said side panels away from the other side panel to spread the cartonfor receiving a charge of product at the filling station, means operableafter the carton has been advanced beyond the filling station forpivoting said fingers away from one another to release the filledcarton, and said second carrier thereafter being operable to move saidpairs of fingers out of registry with the filled cartons as the cartonsmove past said second point thereby to free the filled carton.
 6. Themachine of claim 5 in which said second carrier is a circular membermounted to rotate about a vertical axis, said pairs of fingers beingangularly spaced about the periphery of said member, and furtherincluding a pivot member mounting one finger of each pair and theadjacent finger of the adjacent pair to pivot about a common verticalaxis.
 7. The machine of claim 5 in which said means to pivot the fingersof each pair includes an actuator common to each pair and pivotallyconnected to each of said fingers.